An orchestra is a term of Greek origin, meaning a large musical and instrumental group. The concept of the composition of the orchestra arose during the Bach era and was associated with the unification of musical art, which gave rise to the main modern musical structures: symphony, string, folk and brass bands.
Instruction manual
1
The main community of instrumental families is a symphony orchestra. This is a fairly large collective, performing mainly academic music (classics studied by students of musical institutions) of Western European composers of the 17-19 centuries. Initially, with the advent of the classical symphony in Europe in the 18th century, it consisted of brass, string (bow) and percussion instruments. Over time, the diversity of representatives of each group increased.
2
A small symphony orchestra (up to 50 performers) includes: flutes, clarinets, oboe, horn, bassoon, trumpet and timpani - usually 2 instruments of each kind. And also no more than 20 representatives of strings: violins (first - 5, second - 4), violas - 4 units, double basses - 2, cello - 3.
3
In a large symphony orchestra, where sometimes more than 100 musicians are present, the string group can exceed 60 instruments (making up 2/3 of the total composition). The drum group is noticeably replenished, except for the timpani, this includes cymbals, tom-tom, triangle, bells, drum big and snare. Wind instruments are represented by a copper band and a wooden one. Double bass tube, up to 5 trombones (bass, tenor), 8 horns (including Wagner), 5 pipes (including bass, alto, small) - copper group.
4
The wooden group consists of 5 instruments of each family, as well as varieties of some of them (English horn, alto and small flute, contrabassoon, etc.). Saxophones of all 4 types, harpsichord, piano, harp are often added. Very rarely, an organ. By the number of instruments of the same name, the compositions are paired, triple, quadruple and five.
5
A brass band differs from a symphony in the absence of strings. Wind instruments are divided into copper (wide-censored - leading, and narrow-censored) and wooden (clarinet-saxophone, predominant, flutes, bassoons, oboes). A doubled wooden band is used in a large brass band along with numerous varieties of drums and keyboards. This allows you to play along with waltzes and marches and opera arias, concerts, overtures, symphonies.
6
Folk orchestras consist of national instruments and are composed according to the musical traditions of the given people. Russian folk instruments include: button accordion, balalaika, domra, flute, pity, horn, tambourine and harp. Depending on the musical piece being played, the instrumental composition can be supplemented by drums, bells, oboes, flutes, etc.
note
Violins (first and second), violas, double basses, cello - stringed strings - form a string orchestra.
